Merz Accuses AfD of 'Ethnic Cleansing' After Far-Right Win in Saxony-Anhalt

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the far-right AfD party of promoting "ethnic cleansing" during a Bundestag budget debate on Wednesday, following the party's regional election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Merz condemned the AfD's "remigration" concept as discriminatory, warning that deporting foreign workers would cripple key economic sectors like crafts, care facilities, and restaurants. The AfD won nearly 44% of votes on Sunday, far ahead of Merz's CDU at 17%. The chancellor also dismissed the AfD's electoral success, noting 56% of voters did not support them, and criticized co-leader Alice Weidel for remaining silent on a thwarted drone attack at Leipzig airport attributed to Moscow.